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The following questions provide
information about hotline policy and procedures that you should review before
you file a complaint:
1. Question:
What
is the purpose of the Hotline?
The purpose of the Hotline
Program is to identify and eliminate fraud, waste, and inefficiencies in the
operation of the Navy. To be effective, the program requires all personnel
to be vigilant against the possibility of illegal or improper acts, and to
report to the chain of command, or an IG, any improprieties in this regard.
2. Question:
Who may use the Hotline?
Answer:
Anyone may file a hotline complaint.
3. Question:
What issues should
you report to the Hotline?
Answer:
The IG investigates matters involving:
/Kickbacks/Acceptance
of Gratuities
Conflicts
of Interest
Ethics Violations
False Official Statements/Claims
Fraud
Gifts (Improper
receipt or giving)
Improper Referral for
Mental Health Evaluations
Mismanagement/Organization
Oversight
(Significant Cases)
Misuse of Official
Time, Gov’t Property, Position and Public Office
Political Activities
Purchase Card Abuse
Reprisal (Military
Whistleblower Protection)
Safety/Public Health
(Substantial/Specific)
Systemic Problems
Time and Attendance
(Significant Violations)
Travel Card Abuse
Travel Fraud (TDY and
TAD)
Waste (Gross)
Naval Inspectors General
reserve the right to decline to investigate any matter brought to our
attention. Generally, the Naval Inspector General refers complaints
to the local IG for review and resolution.
4. Question:
What other avenues of redress are available to resolve complaints?
We have provided a list of How to Resolve a Complaint (A-Z) presented to Inspectors General. Many of the issues on
the list do not fall under the purview of the Inspector General, so we
have included referral information to assist you in determining the best
method to address your issue. We suggest you review
the list before filing a
complaint with an IG.
How to Resolve a Complaint (A-Z).
5. Question: How
do you submit a hotline complaint?
Answer: We encourage
you to submit the allegation(s) in writing by e-mail, fax, letter, or
using the online complaint form. Our experience has shown that
written complaints are more organized, provide more
details, and are less emotional.
We will evaluate your complaint and
request more information, if necessary. Keep in mind, if we conduct
an investigation, you will be interviewed and you will be able to provide
additional information and documents at that time.
We have included a list of
IGs on this website with contact
information to include phone numbers, fax numbers and addresses.
Review the list to determine which is the appropriate office to submit
your complaint. If available, we have provided the IG's email
address and website.
6. Question:
Do you have to identify yourself?
Answer.
No. You may request confidentiality or anonymity.
You have two options when you request your identity remain
confidential:
- Release your identity to the IG with the understanding
that it will not be released to the investigator, or
- Identify yourself with the understanding that only
the IG and the investigator will know who you are.
If you request confidentiality, we
will make every effort to protect your identity from disclosure; however, we
cannot guarantee confidentiality since disclosure may be required during the
investigation or in the course of corrective action.
If you file your complaint anonymously, we will not know who you
are. As such, we will not be able to contact you to request additional
information or to give you the results of the investigation.
You may consider establishing an e-mail account using an internet
service provider to submit an anonymous complaint; however, we will not respond
to anonymous complaints submitted in this way since we have no way of verifying
who you are.
7. Question:
Does the IG
take telephone complaints? Answer: We will provide you assistance if you contact an IG
by telephone. If you wish to submit a complaint, we will suggest you submit your complaint
and any supporting documentation in writing. Based on experience, we
have found this to be the best way to serve you. If the IG conducts an
investigation, you will be contacted for an interview.
8. Question:
Is there a time limit to
file a complaint?
Generally, you should submit your complaint within 90 days
of the date
the alleged wrongdoing occurred. However, we
will consider complaints over 90 days old if you can demonstrate you were unable to
meet the time requirement due to extraordinary circumstances or unforeseen
delays.
9. Question:
What can you
expect when you file a hotline complaint?
Answer:
-
An investigator will evaluate your complaint and determine
if the matter warrants investigation or if we should refer your complaint to
other authorities or the command for a response.
-
We will send a confirmation letter to
let you know what action was taken on your complaint if you provide your
name and address. We are unable to notify anonymous complainants
of the results of an investigation if we do not have an e-mail address.
-
Don't expect instant
action on your request... be patient.
10. Question:
What does the IG expect from someone who makes a complaint to the hotline?
Answer: The IG expects you to provide
answers to the questions listed on Step 3.
Remember, the more information you provide the IG,
the better he/she can assist you. Be prepared to provide
supporting evidence.
In accordance with
SECNAVINST 5370.5B, the use of the
Hotline program to file knowingly false complaints is a violation of
18 U.S.C. § 1001 (2003) and Title 18, Chapter 47, United States Code
(Uniform Code of Military Justice). Those suspected of willfully
and knowingly filing false complaints are subject to prosecution
and/or administrative action.
11. Question:
Do we guarantee
we will conduct an investigation?
Answer:
Generally, the Naval Inspector General and the local IGs do not
accept a complaint if:
(1) As stated above, you do not submit your complaint within
90 days ;
(2) You have not addressed your issue
with the local command;
(3) You have not used an appropriate
complaint process for military and civilian employees such as Board for
Correction of Naval Records, Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Opportunity,
Administrative Grievance Procedure, etc.;
(4) Another investigation is being conducted
into the matter.
12. Question:
How long does it take to
investigate a complaint?
Answer:
Most investigations are completed within
90 days,
but can take longer depending on the complexity of the case.
13. Question: Can you withdraw
a complaint once you filed with the IG?
No, Once a complainant makes an allegation,
he/she cannot withdraw the allegation or prevent the IG from proceeding with
the investigation.
14.
Question:
How do you
determine the status of your complaint or obtain a copy of the report?
Answer: Contact the IG office
where you submitted your complaint.
While the investigation
is ongoing, we can only tell you whether the case is open.
Once the investigation is closed, the IG will send you a letter to inform
you that your allegations were substantiated or unsubstantiated.
If you wish to obtain more information about the case, you may submit a
request under the Freedom of Information Act to the IG office that
conducted the investigation to obtain a copy of the report.
15.
Question: If
you do not agree with the results of the investigation, can you ask for
reconsideration?
Answer: Yes. If you have new information to support your
complaint, the case may be reconsidered. If, on the other hand, you
are merely unhappy because you do not agree with the outcome, the IG will
not conduct another investigation.
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